Rovers FT: Crewe 1 Doncaster Rovers 2

DONCASTER Rovers stayed top of League One as a second half Billy Paynter double gave them a 2-1 win at Crewe after they had traikled 1-0..

Backed by a noisy travelling contingent, Rovers began on the front foot.

Brown flicked a long ball on for Coppinger who was wrongly adjudged to be offside as he raced onto his own touch before Martin saved his shot from the edge of the box.

Brown was then the target of a whipped in cross from Husband but the forward failed to get anything on it and it fizzed wide.

Coppinger, playing from the left with Cotterill back on the right, had started the game in lively fashion. He tried his luck from distance but his shot went sailing past the upright.

Lundstram tested Martin as he cleverly got away from his man but curled an effort straight at the keeper, before Coppinger got free down the left but his teasing cross was cut out with Hume waiting to pounce.

Some of Rovers’ best work was coming from Lundstram. Shortly after the half hour his shot was saved by Martin.

Hume drifted in from the left but planted his shot just wide of the near post, before Cotterill rather scuffed an effort wide from the edge of the area.

Sullivan had to be at his best to deny Mellor after the striker was sent clear by Aneke.

Hume saw another attempt blocked before Furman had the ball in the net only for his effort to be ruled out for offside.

Martin then made a great save to deny Hume from point blank range

HALF-TIME

Crewe............0

Rovers............0 Cotterill clipped in a useful cross from the right but nobody else was on the same wavelength, before Husband got forward on the right and drilled an effort from distance just wide.

Hume was allowed to turn in the box but his shot lacked both power and direction.

The visitors were made to pay for their wastefulness, as a bit of sloppy play which cost them dearly.

Hume gave the ball away needlessly just inside his own half and CLAYTON was sent clear, keeping a cool head to slam the ball across Sullivan and into the far corner.

Rovers responded very well. Cotterill struck a free kick just over and then delivered another set piece from out wide which was begging to be headed in, only for Jones and McCombe to both miss out. Jones then forced another great save from Martin, staying forward and getting on the end of Cotterill’s right wing cross.

It looked like being one of those days again for Doncaster, who had seen plenty of chances come and go.

But they were not to be denied. And it was a special finish which eventually got the better of Martin.

PAYNTER, on for Hume moments earlier, picked up possession on half way, glided forward unchallenged before curling home a superb effort into the bottom corner. He celebrated with his customary chicken dance.

And moments later all of Doncaster was doing the comedy dance. A hopeful cross from the right was flicked on by McCombe and PAYNTER was in the right place at the right time to drill home in clinical fashion.

With 20 minutes to go, Rovers were keen to take the sting out of a shellshocked Crewe. For the most part they achieved just that, although there was a heart in mouth moment when the ball fell to Turton just six yards out but he placed his shot the wrong side of the post as Rovers held out for a crucial win.